The days of being disrespected and silenced at community meetings are over for Cape Town twins, Toto Jack and his brother Matoto.
In November, Scrolla.Africa reported that the twins, who are 43 years old, finally went to initiation school on 19 November.
After almost two months, they returned from the mountain on Friday.
Only 10 when their parents died, they have survived by washing cars but they never managed to save enough money to go to initiation school.
“We were not considered proper men and undermined. We were isolated and regarded as boys.”
“Nothing is more embarrassing than being looked down on by someone younger than you just because they went to initiation school,” said Matoto.
The twins told Scrolla.Africa they are ready to start their new lives.
“We got our dignity and our confidence back and now we will be able to participate in community meetings,” said Toto.
He said feeling like a man is out of this world.
“We are grateful to the Somagwaza Institute, the community, and everyone who made sure our journey was successful.”
The organisation seeks to assist males from vulnerable backgrounds who cannot afford to pay funds to undergo initiation.
Sikelela Zokufa, traditional surgeon and the institution’s spokesperson, said they assisted 11 men who couldn’t attend initiation school.
“We started a drive to raise funds for 11 boys to attend the initiation school,” said Zokufa.
“They didn’t deserve the treatment they were receiving. The drive was successful, and we will continue assisting those who need our help.”
He said the drive is helping men to avoid turning to crime and drugs.
“The community played a huge role by donating clothes and other things while Shoprite assisted with food. We are not taking what they did lightly,” he said.
Somagwaza are assisting the twins to get IDs.
“We want them to get jobs, but for now, they can continue washing cars so that they can have food while we work to help them with IDs,” said Zokufa.
Nomava Ndungane told Scrolla.Africa that the twins’ self-esteem was affected.
“If we have people like Sikelela Zokufa, we can help many people. The community needs leaders to take them in the right direction.”
Pictured above: Traditional surgeon Sikelela Zokufa and spokesperson for Somagwaza Institute with the new men they assisted in Cape Town
Image source: Supplied
